Method of and apparatus for liquid extraction



June 28, 1966 R. J. LACHAT ETAL 3,257,736

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION Filed Nov. 27, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet l FIEI June 28, 1966 R. J. LACHAT ETAL 3,257,736

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION FIEE June 1966 R. J.LACHAT ETAL 3,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION Filed Nov. 27, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 5 June 28, 1966 R. J. LACHAT ETAL 3,257,736

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION Filed Nov. 27, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 4 I 1.9 a L June 28, 1966 LAcHAT ETAL 3,257,736

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION June 28, 1966 R. J. LACHATETAL 3,257,736

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION Filed Nov. 27, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 6 16171819 20.212223241526272819 3'03! 325.? 343556373859404] 42 49444.546'47fil95 FIEB United States Patent 3,257,736 METHOD OFAND APPARATUS FOR LIQUID EXTRACTION Remy .1. Lachat, Boonton, N.J., andCarl R. Patterson,

St. Ioscph, Mich, assignors to Whirlpool Qorporation,

a corporation of Beiaware Filed Nov. 2'7, 1963, Ser. No. 327,874 7Claims. (Cl. 34--22) This application is a continuation-in-part of ourcopending application Serial No. 59,237, filed September 29, 1960, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to a liquid extraction apparatus for fabric. 7

The apparatus of this invention is usable, for example, either in adryer to extract liquid, in the water extraction and drying cycle of acombined washer and dryer, or in the liquid extraction and drying cycleof a dry cleaning apparatus.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved liquidextraction apparatus for-fabric comprising a rotatable drum with asubstantially rigid perforate periphery of liquid impervious material, aliquid extracting suction nozzle bearing against a portion of thisperiphery and means for rotating the drum relative to the nozzle totumble the fabric within the drum and present different areas of thefabric to the nozzle in order to aid in withdrawing liquid from thefabric and through the periphery into the nozzle.

Another feature is to provide such an apparatus in which the nozzlebears against the periphery at an area below the horizontal diameter ofthe periphery and upwardly of the lowest part of the periphery in thedirection of rotation of the drum whereby the rotating drum lifts thefabric beyond the nozzle and then drops it below the nozzle to bedragged past the nozzle by the drum for liquid extraction through thenozzle.

A further feature of the invention is to provide such an apparatus inwhich a hollow flexible mounting member is provided on which the nozzleis mounted continuously urging the nozzle against the periphery with theinterior of the mounting member being subjected to the suction and theexterior to the ambient atmosphere so that increasing the suction in thenozzle causes increasing pressure thereof against the periphery.

Another feature of the invention is to provide the improved apparatus ofthe first feature including an enclosing casing surrounding the drumhaving a substantially circumferential groove openly facing the drum anda substantially circumferential heating element in the groovesubstantially encompassing the drum.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of the rear of a washer-dryercombination embodying the invention with portions broken away forclarity of illustration, the section being taken substantially alongline 1-1 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along line 22 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus partially broken away forclarity of illustration.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a water and solids separator of thewasher-dryer combination.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a water and air inletto the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the apparatusshowing the method of mounting the drum for rotation.

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram for the apparatus of the invention.

Patented June 28, 1966 ice -wa'rdly opening door 11 at the front thereofextending substantially the full width of the cabinet at the topthereof. The door is mounted on the cabinet on a plurality of hinges 12and the door is spring urged toward closed position as shown in FIGURE2. The top of the door is provided with a handle 13 for opening the doordownwardly and outwardly about the hinges 12.

Located within the cabinet 10 is a generally cylindrical enclosingcasing 14 having a rear wall 15 and a front wall 16. The front wall 16isprovided with a circular strengthening rib 17 near its outercircumference and located inwardly thereof is an-inwardly directedcylindrical flange 18. Located inwardly of this flange 18 the front wall16 is formed in outwardly opening annular U shape as illustrated at 19to form an outer flange 20 and inner flange 20a that are arrangedeccentrically to each other. I

Positioned adjacent the outer surface of the front wall 16 isthe frontwall 21 of the outer cabinet 10. This front wall 21 is provided with afront opening defined by a cylindrical inwardly extending flange 22.This opening is normally closed by the door 11 with the door beingprovided with a circular rubber gasket 23 which seats against thecircular flange 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The spacing between the cabinet flange 22 and the casing flange 21 issealed by means of a generally cylindrical rubber gasket 24. This gasket24 which is seated on the outer surface of the flange 22 has an innerdiameter that is less than the outer diameter of the flange 22 when thegasket 24 is under no stress. Then, when the gasket 24 is placed on theflange 22 it is stretched so as to provide a snug fit. The gasket isprovided with a pair of outwardly extending annular ribs 25 which bearagainst the outer surface of the flange 21 to complete the seal.

Located substantially concentrically Within the casing 14- is agenerally cylindrical rotatable drum 26. This drum is provided with arear part that is dished inwardly as indicated by the portion 28 withthis portion 28 being substantially symmetrical about the axis ofrotation of the drum. The drum also includes a front part 29 that isprovided with an outwardly extending cylindrical flange 30 locatedadjacent but spaced inwardly of the flange 18. The flange 30 carries aplurality of nylon shoes 31 which bear against the flange 18 asillustrated in FIG- URE 2. The shoes 31 thereby provide bearing surfacesagainst the flange 18 when the drum 26 is rotated. Any suitable bearingmaterial may be used in place of the nylon as desired.

Located between the rear part 27 and the front part 29 of the drum 26 isa cylindrical section 32 that is rigid and water impervious but is madeof a material such as steel and which contains a plurality ofperforations as illustrated at 32. These perforations may be any shapedesired and as shown are elongated in the direction of the circumferenceof the section 32. The dimensions of these perforations are exaggeratedfor purposes of illustration. In the illustrated embodiment eachperforation is by inch and they are spaced inch apart. Furthermore, asillustrated, they are staggered for additional strength.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the perforated section 32 is located atsubstantially the center of the cylindrical periphery 34 of the drum 26and the section 32 is of substantially the same diameter as theremaining parts of the periphery of the drum 26.

As described above, the front of the drum 34 is sup- 3 ported by thebearing shoes 31. The rear of the drum is supported in a bearing 35which extends through an opening in the rear wall of the casing 14.Rotatable within the bearing is a split shaft 36 which is illustratedmost clearly in FIGURE 6. This shaft is located in a tube 37 and isprovided with two splits 38 in its inner end located at right angles toeach other. These splits embrace a pair of rods 39 also at right anglesto each other with these rods being attached to the dished portion 28.Positioned on the enlarged portion 41 of the shaft are a pair of spacedparallel annular flanges 42 and 43 with the front flange 43 bearingagainst the outer end of the tube 37 and the other flange 42 hearingagainst the inner end of the bearing 35 as illustrated in FIGURE 2.These flanges 42 and 43 are held apart by means of a spacer ring 44.

Located on the outer end of the shaft 36 outwardly of the rear wall 15is a drive pulley 45 that is driven by means of a belt 46 for rotatingthe drum 28. The drum 26 is rotated by means of an electric motor 47which is mounted on the bottom 48 of the cabinet 10. This motor 47drives a pulley 49 that is positioned on the motor shaft. The pulley 49rotates a drive pulley 50 by means of a belt 51. The pulley 50 in turndrives a pulley 52 which is located concentrically with the pulley 50for rotation thereof with the pulley 52 driving the belt 46 for rotationof the above-mentioned pulley 45. The various pulleys are arranged suchthat the drum 26 is rotated at relatively slow speed which in theillustrated embodiment is at a substantially constant speed of about 48r.p.m. during washing extraction and drying cycles. The drive pulley 50is mounted on a jack shaft 53 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the belts46 and 51 are held in tension by means of a spring 54.

The cylindrical portion of the casing 14 is provided with an opening inthe lower left quadrant thereof as viewed from the rear, as illustratedin FIGURE 1. Extending through this opening is a flexible rubber collar55 having a cylindrical portion 56 and a flared portion 57. The flaredportion which is on the inner end of the collar 55 is bent back uponitself to a peripheral portion 58 with the peripheral portion beinggrooved to embrace that portion of the casing 14 which defines theabovementioned opening 59. The flared portion 57 adjacent the peripheralportion 58 is urged outwardly into close contact with the edge definingthe opening 59 by an expansion ring 60. The ring is spaced from thecylindrical portion 56 so as to provide an annular spacer 61 that isopen to the atmosphere. The collar 55 serves not only as a seal but alsoas a positioner for the nozzle 62. The nozzle 62 is preferably locatedsubstantially at the area of impact where the tumbled clothes drop ontothe inner surface of the drum.

Held within the collar 55 at the inner end thereof is a suction nozzle62 having a cylindrical outer end 63 and a cup-shaped inner end 64, theedges of which conform to and bear loosely against the outer surface ofthe perforated section 32 as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2. Undersuction the nozzle is drawn securely against the section 32.

Thus, as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, with the drum rotatingclockwise the fabrics on the interior of the drum are dragged past thenozzle 62 by the rotating drum, raised to approximately the upperleft-hand quadrant above the nozzle and then dropped across the interiorof the drum to fall on the lower right-hand quadrant or upstream fromthe nozzle where they are again dragged past the nozzle.

In a typical embodiment the nozzle 62 was made of rigid nylon with asmooth edge closely fitting the exterior surface of the periphery of theperforate section 32 and with a cross sectional area of about 4 squareinches at the end bearing against the periphery. This nozzle wassubjected to an internal vacuum of about 55-60 inches of water (sealedvacuum).

The cylindrical portion 56 of the collar 55 is held on 4 the outer endof a conduit 65. The other end of this conduit 65 communicates with athermostat housing 66 in which are located a pair of thermostats 67 and68. The housing 66 is also joined by a second conduit 69 to to a liquidand solid material separator 70. From the separator 70 to a thirdconduit 71 extends and communicates with the casing 14 below thehorizontal diameter thereof and adjacent the cylindrical wall 72 of thecasing.

In order to establish a suction in the nozzle 62 there is provided anelectrically operated vacuum pump 73 mounted on the bottom 48 of thecabinet 10. This vacuum pump 73 is provided with an inlet 74 and anoutlet 75. The inlet is connected by means of a fourth conduit 76 to theseparator 70.

The outlet of the vacuum pump 73 is connected to an electricallyoperated two-way valve 77, one branch of which is connected to anexhaust conduit 78 leading to a drain or the like, with the other branchbeing connected to a conduit 79 which leads back to the casing 14 nearthe bottom thereof. Thus a closed circuit is provided which has animportant advantage of materially reducing the noise level. The thirdconduit 71 is also provided with an electrically operated valve 80.

Mounted on the bottom 48 of the cabinet 10 is a liquid pump 81. Thispump is pivoted on a support 82 and is provided with a shaft 83. The endof the drive shaft 83 opposite the pump 81 is provided with a concentricfriction collar 84 of rubber or the like which is located within a cup85. This cup is mounted on the shaft 86 of the motor 47. As can be seenin FIGURE 2, the motor shaft 86 extends from opposite ends of the motor47 and the cup is on the end opposite to the drive pulley 49. When thepump 81 is not operating it is in the position shown in FIGURE 2.However, when it is desired to operate the pump a solenoid 87 isenergized and this operates through a V rod spring 88 to rock the pump81 and shaft 83 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 tocontact the drive collar 84 with the cup 85 so as to drive the pump 81.The pump when not operating is held in the position shown in FIGURE 2 bya biasing spring 89. The pump 81 is connected by means of a conduit 90through a water level switch 91 and a flexible collar 92 to the sidepassage 93 of a trap 94. This trap 94 which is commonly called a buttoncup is pressed by means of a compression spring 95 to the bottom of adownwardly extending short tapered conduit 96. The bottom end of thisconduit 96 extends into a groove 97 in the top of the conduit 94 and thetwo are sealed together by means of an annular rubber gasket 98. Theconduit 90 leads to the inlet of the liquid pump 81 and is flexiblewhile the outlet of the pump is connected by means of a flexible conduit98a to an upwardly extending outlet conduit 99. This outlet conduit 99extends upwardly to a point above the maximum liquid level within thecasing 14.

The interior of the drum shaft 26 is provided with a plurality ofinwardly extending baflies 100, here shown as four, each bolted to theinner surface of the cylindrical periphery 34 of the drum as by bolts101, which serve to held the parts 27, 29 and 32 of the drum 26 inassembled relationship. As viewed in FIGURE 2, baffles 100 have arcuateedges 147 with their centers being of shorter height than their endportions. The minimum height of battles 100 is located substantiallyover the centerline of nozzle 62. The bafile construction minimizes thespacing between the perforate section 32 and fabrics bridging thebaflies 100 and thereby serves to minimize loss of vacuum beneath thebaflles during application of suction to perforate section 32.

Extending substantially around the entire internal circumference of thecasing 14 are a pair of electrical heaters 102 and 103 in rod form. Eachheater is positioned in a groove 104 and spaced therefrom by means of aplurality of embossments 105. During the wash cycle of the washer-dryerapparatus illustrated, heaters 102 and 103 are both in operation and actas water heaters. When extracting water from the clothes by means ofthis invention, heater 102 provides heat to vaporize moisture forincreased extraction performance. During the dry cycle, heaters 102 and103 tend to provide an even distribution of heat around the clothes forincreased drying effectiveness. Both liquid and gaseous forms of thefluid retained by the fabrics are therefore removed from the fabrics bysuction nozzle 62 during the extraction and drying operations.

It is believed that the fluid transfer effected by use of this inventionis produced by a combination of direct suction to the fabrics and alocalized high velocity air flow past their surfaces.

Fabrics falling on perforate section 32 and completely covering nozzle62 are subject to the direct extraction but the edges of the fabricswhich only partially cover nozzle 62 are subject to the localized highvelocity transport effect created by' a practically unimpeded air flow.Practically speaking, there is a continuously changing type of fluidtransport during the entire extraction cycle due to the constantlytumbling fabrics within the drum. It is believed that this localizedhigh air velocity transport may be especially beneficial at theinitiation of the extraction operation when the fabrics are saturated.On the other hand, the direct suction is believed to be more eflicient,when a lesser amount of moisture is present within the fabrics at theend of the extraction cycle. The suction applied to nozzle 62 during thetumbling operation is intermittent and pulsating due to the irregulardistribution and tumbling patterns of the fabrics wtihin drum 26.

The front wall 16 of the casing 14 is a separate piece and has itsperipheral edge bearing against a gasket 1% that is attached to thecylindrical portion 72 of the casing. This front wall is held againstthe gasket by means of a plurality of clamps 107.

The casing 14 and thus the drum 26 and associated parts are supported onspaced legs 148 which in turn are supported on the bottom 48 of theouter cabinet 10.

Adjacent the top of the rear wall 15 of the casing 14 is a funnel 108 inthe shape of an upwardly opening cup on the rear surface of this rearwall. The cup communicates with an opening in the wall 15 which isnormally closed by means of a hinged weighted door 110. A water valve111 operated by an electric solenoid 112 is positioned to feed waterinto the cup 108 when the valve 111 is opened with the weight of thiswater being sufficient to force the weighted door 110 open to permit thewater to enter the casing 14.

The details of the liquid and solid material separator 70 areillustrated inFIGURE 4. As is shown there, the inlet conduit 69communicates with an upwardly extending pipe 113 within the separatorwith this pipe opening upwardly. A pair of spaced overlapped horizontalbaffies 114 and 115 are provided spaced above the upper end of the pipe113 with the baffle 114 being mounted on a side wall 116 of theseparator and the bafl le 115 being spaced on an intermediate wall 117of the separator. Located between this wall 117 and a second wall 118spaced therefrom is a cylindrical filter 119 made of Wire cloth or thelike. Extending between the bottom of the walls 117 and 118 is a closedbottom member 120 on which the bottom of the filter 119 rests when thefilter is in place as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The top of the filter 119is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 121 which restson a top wall 122 of the separator. The top of the filter 119 isprovided with a handle 123 while adjacent the bottom of the filter thereis provided a felt annular collar 124.

When the vacuum system is being used to extract water from fabric orother materials within the drum 26 the water is drawn up through theconduit 69 and collects in a pool 125 within the separator 70. Gaseousfluid including air and water vapor together with small particles timer133.

or other solid materials flow upwardly around and between the baflies114 and which further aids in separating particles of water from thisgaseous fluid. The fluid and any inturned solid particles such as lintthen flow through an opening 126 in the wall 117 above the baffle 115and into the space 127 between the filter 119 and the walls 117 and 118.The gaseous fluid flows through the filter 119 and the filter serves tocatch particles of lint and such solid materials. The filter can bewithdrawn from time to time by means of the handle 123 for cleaning.

The gaseous fluid on the interior of the filter 119 then flows downthrough a pipe 128 which communicates with the conduit '76 which leadsto the inlet 74 of the vacuum pump 73.

The wiring diagram of this embodiment of the invention is illustrated inFIGURE 7. In addition to elements already described, as indicatedthereon, there is provided a normally closed door switch 129, switch130, a centrifugal switch 131, a resistance 132, the electric motoroperated timer illustrated schematically at 133 and timer operatedswitches. One of these timer switches has a pair of contacts 134 and 135and a movable contact member 136. The second timer operated switch has apair of contacts 137 and 138 and a movable member 139. A third switchhas a single contact 140 and a movable contact member 141 while anotherswitch has a contact 142 and a movable contact member 143. The timer 133is operated by means of a timer switch 144. As will M Motor (47) H1Heater #1 (1112) H2 Heater #2 (103) W Water in (111) P Pump (81) TMTimer Motor (13.3) HV High Vacuum LV Low Vacuum The numbers inparentheses indicate the above described pertinent elements of thewasher-dryer. The words at the bottom of the diagram of FIGURE 8illustrate what is happening at each of 50 intervals. These intervalsmay of course be any time desired but in this embodiment each equals 30seconds.

The operation of the washer-dryer combination of the illustratedembodiment is as follows: During the first 49 intervals the motor 47 isoperating as soon as the door switch 129 is closed by closing the door11 and as soon as the motor switch 131 is closed by operation of theWhen the motor is first operated it builds up to a speed where thecentrifugal switch 131 is closed to place all of the elementsin'electrical circuit. The circuit is supplied with power from leads L1and L2. During the first two intervals contact member 136 is moved toclose the circuit with contact 134 which thereupon energizes thesolenoid 112 to open th water inlet valve 111. Water thereupon flowsthrough pipe 145 into the cup 108 and through the opening 109 and pastthe door 110 into the interior of the casing 114. As the water fallsinto the sump portion of the machine, defined by the trap 94 and conduit96, the water level switch 91 begins to sense the amount of water in thecasing. This incoming water runs into the bottom cup 94 through conduit90, pump 31, conduit 98a and conduit 78 where it seeks its level. Thiswater level which in the illustrated embodiment is a maximum of /2inches in casing 14 measured on the vertical center line never reachesthe top of the vertical portion of water outlet conduit 99. At the endof the first two intervals the contacts 134 and 136 are broken so as toclose the valve 111 and stop the inflow of water.

During these first two intervals the two heaters 102 and 103 areenergized and this continues through the first seventeen intervals.Similarly, the timer 133 is energized by closing of the switch 144 tobegin the cycle and this closing may be done manually. The closing ofthe timer continues through the first forty-two intervals.

The closing of the circuit to the motor 47 causes rotation of the drum26 and this rotation continues through the first forty-nine intervals orthrough the entire cycle of operations. During the rotation of the drum26 the baifies 100, each of which has an arcuate edge as indicated at 1.7, pick up the clothes or material being treated and drops them intothe water solution. The battles also serve to drag the materials throughthe water. The washing cycle continues through the first sixteenintervals at the end of which the timer closes the switch 135-136 to thepump 81. This circuit to the pump is closed throughout intervalseventeen and interval eighteen. During this operation of the pump thewater is pumped through the conduits 98a and 99 to a point of disposalwhich may be a kitchen sink or conventional laundry drain.

At the end of interval seventeen the circuit to the pump is continuedfor another interval, and the circuit to the vacuum pump 73 is completedon high vacuum by closing contacts 137 and 139. This serves to set up avacuum in the nozzle 64, in the manner previously described, to extractwater from the fabrics as the rotating drum passes them over the nozzle.The rotating drum tumbles the fabrics, dropping them onto the perforatesection beyond the nozzle. Those fabrics that are dropped beyond thenozzle are dragged past the nozzle by the rotating drum. Because of theconstruction of the flexible support member 55, increasing vacuum withinthe system causes air pressure operating through the opening 61 to pressnozzle 62 against drum 26 so that the mating portions of nozzle 62 andthe perforate drum section 32 are pressed together during theapplication of suction to nozzle 62.

At the end of interval eighteen the circuit to the vacuum pump 73 isbroken by moving the movable member 139 to its initial position as shownin FIGURE 7. Similarly, the circuit to the pump 81 is broken byreturning the movable contact member 136 to its initial position. At thesame time through the duration of interval nineteen the circuit to thesolenoid 112 is closed by closing contacts 134 and 136 to permit morewater to flow into the drum 26. At the end of this seventeenth intervalthe heater circuits are broken by opening the circuits 140-141 and142-143. However, at the beginning of the nineteenth interval these areagain closed to re-energize the heaters during the nineteenth andtwentieth intervals.

During the twenty-first interval the circuits to the heaters 102 and 103are again broken, while the circuit to the pump is continued and thecircuit to the vacuum pump is continued so as to extract this rinsewater.

During interval twenty-two and interval twenty-five two additionalbatches of rinse water are supplied in the same manner with each rinsewater being withdrawn in the manner described.

At the end of the twenty-seventh interval when the last batch of rinsewater has been withdrawn the vacuum pump 73 continues to be operated byclosing of the contacts 137-139 from the beginning of the twenty-seventhinterval until the end of the forty-second interval. During the sameperiod the pump 81 continues to be energized so that the combination ofthe relatively high vacuum and the pumping serves to extract moisture.During this period one of the heaters 102 is de-energized as by openingthe switch 140-141, while the other heater 8 103 continues to beenergized by continued closing of the switch 142-143.

At the end of the forty-second interval the circuit to the pump 81 isbroken, the circuit to the timer is broken and the switch 137-139 in thevacuum pump circuit is opened. Because of the opening of the circuit tothe timer continued operation through the variable interval forty-threeis controlled solely by the thermostat 67. Thus contrary to thesituation as indicated on FIGURE 8 interval fortythree is not of fixedtime such as thirty seconds but is of variable time depending upon thelength of time required to dry the materials such as clothes that arebeing dried.

During this variable or time delay interval forty-three th vacuum pump73 is operating on low vacuum by reason of closing of the switch 138-139to include the resistance 132 in the vacuum pump circuit. This lowvacuum operation continues until the end of the operation. Similarly,during this variable interval forty-three, both heaters 102 and 103 areenergized While the circuit to the motor is continued to be energized tocause continued rotation of the drum 26. In the illustrated embodimentof the invention the resistanc 132 serves to reduce the speed of thevacuum pump motor (not illustrated) from 17,000 rpm. to about 3,000 rpm.During maintenance of the vacuum conditions ambient air is drawn intothe casing 14 through the cup 108 by reason of the vacuum within thecasing serving to draw air in the opening 109 and past the weighted door110. This air travels into the casing 14, into the drum 26 through hteperforate section 32.

The moisture laden air passes through the thermostat housing 66 wherethe control thermostat 67 senses the temperature of the air. Because thecircuit to the timer has been broken the entire operation is regulatedby the thermostats. As the temperature of the air increases it indicatesthat the load within the drum is becoming drier and drier. When the loadreaches a predetermined temperature such as 165 F. which is known to bethe result of a relatively dry condition in the clothes the thermostat67 opens to break the circuit to the heaters 102 and 103 and stop theheating operation. At this same temperature or slightly less thethermostat 68 closes to close the electrical circuit to the timer 133.This moves the operating cycle from the variable thermostat controlledinterval forty-three through intervals forty-four to forty-nineinclusive. During this period which is a cool-down period the vacuumpump 73 continues to 0pcrate with the resistance 132 in the circuit toprovide low vacuum and the motor 47 continues to operate to rotate thedrum 26. At the end of interval forty-nine all circuits are broken tostop the operation of the device.

During the extraction operation the water is pumped from the apparatusin the manner described to the point of disposal. Moisture laden air isdrawn through the nozzle 64 and circulated in a closed circuit includingthe conduit 65, housing 66, conduit 69, separator 70, conduit 76, vacuumpump 73, conduit 79 and casing 14.

The moisture and water in the air is trapped in the separator 70, aspreviously described. At a timed interval, which is not illustrated inthe diagram of FIGURE 8, the valve is opened to permit this water todrain through the conduit 71 into the casing 14 and into the sump 94-96.The valve 80 is otherwise closed, however, during the drying cycle.During the drying cycle valve 77 at the exit of the vacuum pump 73directs all of the gaseous fluid including air and moisture through theconduit 78 to a point of disposal such as the exterior atmosphere.However, during the extraction cycle valve 77 recirculated this gaseousfluid by directing it through the conduit 79 into the interior of thecasing 14. This can be done because the water extraction from theclothes is a physical pulling of the water from the clothes and thus theextraction does not depend upon the moisture content of the air beingpassed through the clothes.

When it is desired to remove solid foreign bodies such as buttons fromthe cup 94 it is only necessary to press the cup 94 downwardly againstthe spring 95 to withdraw the cup from the conduit 96. Because of theflexibility of the collar 92 the cup 94 may then be moved out from underthe conduit 96 for removal of this foreign material.

The recirculation of the moisture laden air during the extraction ofliquid serves to cut down the noise of operation particularly the noiseof the vacuum pump. In addition sound deadening material (not shown) maybe provided in the customary manner to further cut down noise.

Although the specific embodiment of nozzle 62 is substantially circularand bears against a perforate section occupying only a portion of thedrum circumference, tests have shown that the nozzle may be any shapedesired such as oval, rectangular and the like. Furthermore, if desired,the perforate section may occupy the entire drum circumference or anyfraction thereof.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description, unless otherwisespecified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scopeas set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. Liquid extraction apparatus for fabric, comprising: a rotatable drumfor receiving and tumbling fabric placed therein, said drum having asubstantially rigid perforate periphery of liquid impervious material; aplurality of spaced longitudinal, inwardly extending baflles at theinner surface of said drum, each bafiie being higher at the ends than atan intermediate portion between the ends; a liquid extracting suctionnozzle bearing against a portion of said periphery outwardly of thedrum; means for applying a liquid extracting suction to said nozzle; andmeans for rotating said drum relative to said nozzle to tumble saidfabric within said drum and present different areas of said fabric tosaid nozzle, thereby aiding in withdrawing liquid from said fabrics andthrough said periphery and nozzle.

2. Liquid extraction apparatus a rotatable drum for receiving andtumbling fabric placed therein, said drum having a substantially rigidperforate periphery of liquid impervious material; a rigid liquidextracting suction nozzle bearing against a portion of said peripheryoutwardly of the drum; means biasing said nozzle toward said drum; meansfor applying a liquid extracting suction to said nozzle; and means forrotating said drum relative to said nozzle to tumble said fabric withinsaid drum and present different areas of said fabric to said nozzle,thereby aiding in withdrawing liquid from said fabric and through saidperiphery and nozzle.

3. Liquid extraction apparatus for fabric, comprising: a rotatable drumfor receiving and tumbling fabric placed therein, said drum having asubstantially rigid liquid impervious perforate periphery; a liquidextracting suction nozzle bearing against a portion of said peripheryoutwardly of the drum at an area below the horizontal diameter of saidperiphery and upwardly of the lowest point of said periphery in thedirection of rotationof said drum; means for applying a liquidextracting suction to said nozzle; and means for rotating said drumrelative to said nozzle to tumble said fabric within said drum andpresentdifferent areas of said fabric to said nozzle, thereby directlyextracting liquid from said fabric and through said periphery andnozzle, said rotating drum lifting the fabric beyond the nozzle in saiddirection of rotation and dropping the fabric below the nozzle to bedragged past the nozzle by said rotating drum.

4. Liquid extraction apparatus for fabric, comprising: a rotatable drumfor receiving and tumbling fabric placed therein, said drum having asubstantially rigid perforate for fabric, comprising:

periphery of liquid impervious material; a liquid extracting suctionnozzle bearing against a portion of said periphery outwardly of thedrum; means for applying a liquid extracting suction to said nozzle; ahollow flexible mounting member on which said nozzle is mountedcontinuously urging said nozzle against said periphery, said mountingmember having interior and an exterior, said interior being subjected tosaid suction and said exterior to ambient atmosphere whereby increasingsuction causes increasing pressure of the nozzle against said periphery;and means for rotating said drum relative to said nozzle to tumble saidfabric within said drum and present different areas of said fabric tosaid nozzle, thereby aiding in withdrawing liquid from said fabric andthrough said periphery and nozzle.

5. Liquid extraction apparatus for fabric, comprising: a rotatable drumfor receiving and tumbling fabric placed therein, said. drum having asubstantially rigid perforate periphery of liquid impervious material; aliquid extract ing suction nozzle bearing against a portion of saidperiphery outwardly of the drum at an area below the horizontal diameterof said periphery and upwardly of the lowest point of said periphery inthe direction of rotation of said drum; an enclosing casing surroundingsaid drum; fluid passage means having one end communicating with saidnozzle and another end communicating with said casing to provide aclosed circuit comprising said nozzle, fluid passage means, casing anddrum; suction producing means in said passage means for creating asuction in said nozzle and causing fluid flow from said drum, to saidnozzle,-and back to said drum by way of said casing; means in said fluidpassage means for separating liquid and solid matter drawn through saidnozzle from gaseous matter; a hollow flexible mounting member on whichsaidnozzle is mounted continuously -urging said nozzle against saidperiphery, said mounting member having an interior and an exterior, saidinterior being subjected to said suction and said exterior to ambientatmosphere whereby increasing suction causes increasing pressure of thenozzle against said periphery; and means for rotating said drum relativeto said nozzle to tumble said fabric within said drum and presentdifferent areas of said fabric to said nozzle, thereby aiding inwithdrawing liquid from said fabric and through said periphery andnozzle, said rotating drum lifting the fabric beyond the nozzle in saiddirection of rotationand dropping the fabric below the nozzle to bedragged past the nozzle by said rotating drum.

6. The method of removing liquid from fabrics comprising the steps of:firstly extracting initial quantities of liquid from said fabrics bysubjecting them to a direct, relatively high localized suction appliedsuccessively to different increments of said fabrics while agitatingsaid fabrics; and subsequently extracting residual liquid from saidfabrics by subjecting them to a direct, lower localized suction appliedsuccessively to different increments of said fabrics while concurrentlyheating and agitating said fabrics.

7. Liquid extraction apparatus for fabrics comprising: a rotatable drumfor receiving and tumbling fabrics placed therein and having asubstantially rigid liquid impervious perforate periphery; a liquidextraction suction nozzle bearing against a portion of said peripheryoutwardly of said drum; means for applying a liquid extracting suctionto said nozzle; means for rotating said drum relative to said nozzle totumble said fabrics within said drum and present different areas of saidfabrics to said nozzle, thereby directly extracting liquid from saidfabrics and through said periphery and nozzle; liquid conduit meanscommunicating with said nozzle and leading to a place of disposal forthe liquid extracted from said fabrics; a pump in said liquid conduitmeans; and fluid separating means in said liquid conduit means upstreamof said pump for removing gas from said liquid conduit means.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED12 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,022,966 12/1952 France.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

5 NORMAN YUDKOFF, PERCY L. PATRICK,

Examiners.

C. R. REMKE, Assistant Examiner.

1. LIQUID EXSTRACTION APPARATUS FOR FABRIC, COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE DRUMFOR RECEIVING AND TUMBLING FABRIC PLACED THEREIN, SAID DRUM HAVING ASUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PERFORATE PERIPHERY OF LIQUID IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL; APLURALITY OF SPACED LONGITUDINAL, INWARDLY EXTENDING BAFFLES AT THEINNER SURFACE OF SAID DRUM, EACH BAFFLE BEING HIGHER AT THE ENDS THAN ATAN INTERMEDIATE PORTION BETWEEN THE ENDS; A LIQUID EXTRACTING SUCTIONNOZZLE BEARING AGAINST A PORTION OF SAID PERIPHERY OUTWARDLY OF THEDRUM; MEANS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID EXTRACTING SUCTION TO SAID NOZZLE; ANDMEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM RELATIVE TO SAID NOZZLE TO TUMBLE SAIDFABRIC WITHIN SAID DRUM AND PRESENT DIFFERENT AREAS OF SAID FABRIC TOSAID NOZZLE, THEREBY AIDING IN WITHDRAWING LIQUID FROM SAID FABRICS ANDTHROUGH SAID PERIPHERY AND NOZZLE.